Chapter 426 - 425: 156 Rounds

Chapter 426: Chapter 425: 156 Rounds

Seraphina Sinclair watched her, saying nothing and not letting go.

was the first to speak.

"Um..." Her voice was a little hoarse. "I was just passing by, just taking a look. Don’t mind me, I’ll be on my way—"

"You’re already here," Seraphina Sinclair said.

was speechless.

’Why does that sound so familiar?’

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Seraphina Sinclair had already let go.

Not to let her leave, but to take a step back, making room for her to come out.

stood by the Lightgate, not knowing whether to advance or retreat.

She looked down at her crumpled cloak, then up at Seraphina Sinclair’s expressionless face. Finally, with a sigh, she slipped all the way out of the Lightgate.

"Alright," she said. "I’m here."

She smoothed out her rumpled cloak and stood stiffly on the stone floor, looking utterly awkward.

It was Seraphina Sinclair who broke the silence and got things started. "Where are your goods?"

froze for a moment.

"What goods?"

Seraphina Sinclair looked at her, her gaze seeming to ask, ’What are you playing at?’

"You’re a Traveling Merchant," she said. "You come to me without any goods?"

opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed her words. She lowered her head to stare at the tips of her feet, remaining silent for several seconds as if debating whether to say something.

Seraphina Sinclair watched without a word.

’Whatever could make a Traveling Merchant this conflicted couldn’t be a small matter.’

’If she can bring herself to say it, I’ll listen. If she can’t, I’m perfectly happy to be left in peace.’

"I didn’t come here to sell anything."

After a long moment, Traveling Merchant 001 finally spoke.

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t reply, simply watching her. The meaning was clear: ’And?’

took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind.

"I’ve come to ask for your help."

Seraphina Sinclair’s brow twitched slightly.

’Asking me for help? Isn’t this Traveling Merchant 001? Judging by her number, she’s supposed to be the most capable of all the Traveling Merchants, and she needs my help?’

"Help with what?"

Instead of answering directly, 001 took something out from her robes.

It was a very old piece of paper, its edges yellowed with age and covered in strange patterns.

Seraphina Sinclair took the paper and looked down, examining it closely.

The paper was thin, almost transparent, yet its texture was unusually tough, clearly made from some special material.

Seraphina Sinclair studied the patterns on the paper. They were indeed strange. At first glance, it looked like a map, but on closer inspection, it didn’t. There were no place names, no scale, only a few winding lines and strange symbols.

The lines converged at a point in the center of the paper. That point was drawn as a circle, and inside it was a smaller circle, resembling—a door.

Seraphina Sinclair’s eyes narrowed. She looked up at 001. "What is this?"

didn’t answer right away. She just stared at Seraphina Sinclair, a complex emotion swirling in her large, clear eyes.

It was like nostalgia, like fear, and also a kind of... indescribable anticipation.

"This is..." she began, her voice even softer than before, "a map of my home."

Seraphina Sinclair’s brow twitched.

’Home?’

’A Traveling Merchant like 001 actually has a home?’

She recalled the strange and bizarre Traveling Merchants mentioned on the regional channel before.

They came in all shapes and sizes. Some, like Traveling Merchant 001, looked human; others looked like beasts, and some were completely unidentifiable.

They traveled between the various mobile cabins and major markets, selling all sorts of strange and rare goods, as if they were born to trade.

"Your home?" she repeated.

nodded, her gaze falling on the yellowed paper. She paused, then extended a finger and gently tapped the circle on the page.

"This," she said, "is the door home."

Seraphina Sinclair stared at the circle.

The drawing of the door was simple, but for some reason, looking at it felt... very familiar, and comforting, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

"You came to me for help," Seraphina Sinclair said, looking up at 001, "because you want me to help you find this door?"

shook her head. "Not find it. Open it."

Seraphina Sinclair’s eyes narrowed.

’Open it?’

She suddenly remembered the Door Key in her possession.

’Could it be... that Traveling Merchant 001 sought me out because of the Door Key?’

’But I’ve only shown it to Squidward and the others, haven’t I? How does it seem like every creature in the world knows about it now?’

"You have a Door Key," 001 said.

’Just as I thought.’ Seraphina Sinclair didn’t deny it.

looked at her, and something new suddenly appeared in her eyes.

Like someone who had waited long in the darkness and finally saw a glimmer of hope, she looked at Seraphina Sinclair with that same complex gaze. "Gray told me. We’re very close. It knew I’ve been searching for a creature who possesses a Door Key."

Traveling Merchant 001’s voice grew much softer, and she sighed like a world-weary adult.

"I wasn’t always Traveling Merchant 001. I was Traveling Merchant 156. One hundred fifty-six rounds. I survived 156 entire rounds to finally get this chance! Now, you have the Door Key, and I can see the door!"

Seraphina Sinclair was silent for two seconds, struggling to process the information from Traveling Merchant 001.

’Who is Gray?’

’And what does 156 rounds mean?’

Path’s Gift had said before, "Usually, it’s very, very late before anyone finds me." Back then, Seraphina Sinclair had suspected they weren’t the first group to enter the Black Mist World. Now, with the Traveling Merchant’s corroboration...

’That suspicion was true after all.’

’But what does that mean?’

"So?"

took another deep breath, as if suppressing some emotion. "I want to ask you to take me with you and open that door."

Seraphina Sinclair remained silent.

took a step forward, tilting her head back to look up at her. For the first time, her eyes revealed a hint of vulnerability.

"I want to go home." Her voice was soft, as light as a feather. "I haven’t... I haven’t been back in a very, very long time. We look so much alike. I’ve waited for so many rounds, and I’ve finally found a creature who looks like me. Please, will you help me?"

The cabin fell silent.

Luna Jacobs stopped what she was doing and looked up at the scene. The Gloom Hatchling poked its head out from her arms, curiously staring at the little girl.

Even the Sunflower in the corner seemed to turn its head slightly.

Seraphina Sinclair looked at 001, silent for a long time.

"Why me?"

was taken aback.

"What?"

"Why seek me out?" Seraphina Sinclair’s voice was calm. "You said you’ve waited 156 rounds. Over that many cycles, there must have been quite a few creatures who obtained a Door Key. Why did you specifically choose me?"

lowered her head, staring at her feet.

"Because..." Her voice was hesitant. "Because only the Door Key in your possession matches the door on this map. Because we look similar enough. Because only we can open the same door."